McStill Pot Still and liebig angle

[poompy]

Hey all.

Im sure this a simple question for some.

Recently I have been doing strip runs and the chucking 3 lots of low wines into the boiler and doing a spirit run @40%.
The strip run is fine as in the product output comes out at around 30deg.
The spirit run is running a lot hotter 45-49deg.
I am pretty sure that hasn't been a drastic increase of the town supply water.
The end of the condenser is nice and cool i.e. the same temp as the tap water. It doesn't get warm till about 3/4 of the way up (near the coolant outlet)

I know I could increase the water flow, but i get a bit paranoid but all the water. But with the liebig not being warm till about 3/4 up i am not sure this would have much effect.

Does this come down to how much product is being condensed? I would assume so.
I have had the liebig set at about 45 below horizontal, is this OK? or should I decrease this angle so that the output runs out slower or has more contact time with the coolant?

Other than this I love the pot still. It is so easy to run :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Cheers

[SBB]

Sounds to me as if its running as it should.
As long as your product is exiting the condenser reasonably cool, having a leigburg running a bit warm up the top isn't a bad thing.
If your worried about it being a bit warm a very small increase in water flow should fix it.
Less of an angle will help as well, you dont need much angle on them for them to work.

[poompy]

so 45-49deg is not out of order the product coming out the end? If not all good.
Just have to have the calc handy to adjust abv measurement .

Cheers

[Brendan]

Some distilleries actually prefer to run out their distillate at a warmer temp...

There is nothing wrong with what yours is doing, the liquid is well condensed and nowhere near vapour temperature.

Sure though, most people do run cooler than that and an increase in coolant water flow wouldn't hurt...but nothing's wrong with your setup :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[poompy]

beauty. good enough for me :handgestures-thumbupleft:
cheers.

[Jonno]

Hey Poompy, what do you do to adjust abv?

[poompy]

I have a temp prob sitting in the product of my parrot and an alcometer.
Take the two values and plug them in this website

http://homedistiller.org/calcs/husker_temp_convert.php

[Jonno]

Thanks mate, spent the last 20 minutes lookin. Knew it was somewhere :laughing-rolling:

[poompy]

:teasing-tease: haha tgif!!

[SBB]

so 45-49deg is not out of order the product coming out the end?

Its probably a bit warmer than some would like, but it aint the end of the world.
Put a bit less angle on your condenser and that should drop the temp some, if it doesn't a little more water flow should help, or a combination of both.
You really don't need a lot of "fall" on a liegburg for it to work.

[bt1]

+1 SBB,

angle is neither here nor there..my 3 pots would nearer flat perhaps 25 -30 degrees...it's flow/ heat input condenser length that's the issues and the temp of the cooling water supply/sizing.

more water cooler temp get a radiator or return plate cooler in place...it will knock 50% of temp before it hits return cooling storage.

take supply only from the bottom helps as hot sits closer to top.

In real hot temps ...45+ a long condenser is a must also.

bt1

[poompy]

Cheers guys will play with the angle a bit and see if I can pre chill the water before it hits the condenser.

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

[emptyglass]

Generaly speaking, your spirit run will have a higher ABV than the wash, so you will be collecting more alc for the same given still and heat setting. Your leibig will have more hooch to condense.

If you are concerned about water usage, maybe consider using a radiator, tank and pump. Zero water use, you will use a touch more power though.

[bt1]

poompy,

can I ask in the cold sober light of the am, how much water cooling do you have to use?

is it tap...endless
small tank
large tank
Have you checked flow to condenser so its flows nicely from top exit closest to still and responds to pump/tap changes?

there's more to this I reckon want to get to the bottom of it

btw your avatar causes my spelling issues :D

bt1

[Jonno]

Not to hijack but im having a similar issue.

My first spirit run yesterday.

Had liebig around 40 degrees. Tap water, around 3L/minute. 2400 watts. Coming out between 58-62 degrees. I've been told to shove some copper or ss scrubber up there to slow it down a little and hopefully it'll also help for when im stripping on 4400 watts. 3/4" over 1/2" liebig 600mm long

cheers

[bt1]

Jonno,

here's a link to the insert idea to sort out huffing but it's the same idea it helps a little

http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2914&hilit=+turbulator&p=41840#p41420

I'd love to know a couple of things

where the hot spot on the leibig ie the point at which it changes from red hot to the touch to cool?
- If it's right up at the join of the T to take off hot water your condenser could be a tad short for the power going in.

Does that spot move with increased flow?
- if you could slip the end T off and wind some ex electrical thin gauge wire around the inner tube, stretch it out insert into cooling water cavity to mix up water flow a tad.

Is tap and seat in good nic?
- is your tap self adjusting like flow falls off whilst running...new washer and seat

What's the temp input of the tap water?
- If it helps years ago when I had a shorter condenser I got a 1m of 50 mm pvc pipe, cut it length ways to form a tray, wired it to the condenser filled bottom 3/4 with ice... used to do this on real hot days

cheers
bt1

[poompy]

poompy,

can I ask in the cold sober light of the am, how much water cooling do you have to use?

is it tap...endless
small tank
large tank
Have you checked flow to condenser so its flows nicely from top exit closest to still and responds to pump/tap changes?

there's more to this I reckon want to get to the bottom of it

btw your avatar causes my spelling issues :D

bt1

Cooling water is from the tap so endless.
Every thing flows perfectly.
I believe the t500 boiler might be 1800watt so that shouldn't be to much for the condenser.

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

[MacStill]

maybe I'm missing something here, sounds like the still is running ok.... if you want a cooler output increase water flow & decrease liebig angle :think:

[poompy]

maybe I'm missing something here, sounds like the still is running ok.... if you want a cooler output increase water flow & decrease liebig angle :think:

i am sure it is as simple as that. Haven't really played with the angle of the dangle to much so next run I will decrease the angle of the liebig.
Cheers for the all responses guys!!

I have been quietly watching all the bubbler builds.....oh man it is getting ever so tempting...the problem is i need to buy the tools as well to get started....SWMBO will make that very hard!!